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Some people have even heard warnings like "ghosts will pull at your legs"… Folklore that remains across Japan says: "Don't go to the sea during Obon ."
This article explores the background of that belief and its connection to natural conditions.
In Japan, it is often said that you should not go swimming in the sea after Obon. Since some people may not know the reasons behind this, I'd like to share this article.
Folklore of Obon: "Don't Go to the Sea"
Across Japan, a saying remains during the Obon season: "Don't go to the sea."
It has long been feared that the spirits of ancestors return from the sea during this time and may "pull people's legs down." But why has such a belief persisted? Research shows that it stems from the fusion of Tanabata's water deity worship with ancestor veneration during Obon, as well as seasonal natural conditions that make swimming more dangerous.
[Watch the Video] Some have heard warnings like "ghosts will pull you down"… Folklore across Japan says: "Don't go to the sea during Obon." Here's the background and natural factors behind this belief.
Why the Saying "Don't Go to the Sea During Obon" Remains
On July 29, at Shichiri Mihama Beach in Kumano, Mie Prefecture , a high school girl was swept away by high waves and died. On August 2, a 57-year-old man drowned in the Tsubo River in Seki, Gifu Prefecture. Then, on August 3, at Terasawa Beach in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture , a Brazilian mother and her son were caught in the waves. The son survived, but the 24-year-old mother drowned. As summer vacation begins, water-related accidents have occurred one after another.
Amid these tragedies, many recall the old warning: "Don't go to the sea during Obon."
According to Konishi Tsunenori, a folklorist at the Nagoya City Museum, "Obon is the time when ancestral spirits return. Since many of those spirits are not directly connected to you, it was believed they might pull you down, so people were told to stay out of the sea."
Voices from the Streets
Woman from Kyoto (26):
"I've heard that ghosts pull at your legs in the sea, so I try not to go."
Man from Aichi (17):
"My grandmother told me the sea during Obon is dangerous. I've heard spirits might drag you down."
Why is the Sea Linked with Ancestors?
Tomoyuki Ichino, Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies at Doho University, explains:
"The sea was considered the gateway to the afterlife. Entering carelessly could mean being led into the world of the dead."
He adds:
"Tanabata's water deity worship became linked with Buddhist practices of Obon, and over time, people came to believe the dead dwell beyond the sea and return from there."
In the old calendar, Obon falls on July 15, with Tanabata on July 7, just a week before. While Tanabata is now most associated with the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, its origins lie in rituals welcoming deities, weaving offerings, and praying for a good harvest through water deity worship.
Because Obon and Tanabata were close in season, their traditions gradually merged over the centuries. As a result, the belief took shape that "the spirits of the dead return from beyond the sea."
Why Water Accidents Are More Likely During Obon
Hidetoshi Saito of the Japan Society of Water Accidents notes, "From experience, water-related accidents seem to increase around Obon." He explains that there is a kind of "formula" for such accidents:
Number of people near the water × Level of hazard = Likelihood of accidents
If many people gather but there is little danger, accidents do not occur. Likewise, if conditions are dangerous but no one is present, there are no accidents. The problem is that during Obon, this balance tends to collapse.
Saito explains:
"Around Obon, typhoons begin forming across the region, producing long rolling swells."
Even if these typhoons form far away, they generate large, rounded waves called uneri (swells). These swells can travel long distances, and while their wave height may appear small, they carry powerful force. Once they reach the coast, they can become dangerous high waves, capable of sweeping people away. Because typhoons are often distant, local weather may still seem calm and sunny, causing people to let their guard down.
Saito continues:
"During Obon, many people gather by the water for homecomings and sightseeing, just as coastal risks increase from swells. Inevitably, water accidents become more frequent."
Folklorist Tsunenori Konishi suggests that ancestors may have intuitively understood these dangers:
"Obon has always been a nationwide observance involving everyone, so it was easy to spread the warning: 'Stop swimming around this time.' It became a teaching passed down through generations."
Saito adds:
"Even if there's no direct scientific basis, traditions handed down from our ancestors carry meaning and should be respected."
Other Obon Taboos
In addition to swimming, various activities are said to be avoided during Obon. These include sewing, insect hunting, and fishing—anything linked to killing or bloodshed. The belief comes from the idea that blood is impure, so activities that could cause bleeding should be refrained from.
Some regions also avoid major life events such as moving house or holding weddings, based on the idea that Obon is a time to rest and welcome ancestral spirits.
These customs reflect the wisdom of earlier generations, still alive in daily life today.
(Source: Tokai TV)
news.yahoo.co.jp
This article explores the background of that belief and its connection to natural conditions.
In Japan, it is often said that you should not go swimming in the sea after Obon. Since some people may not know the reasons behind this, I'd like to share this article.
Folklore of Obon: "Don't Go to the Sea"
Across Japan, a saying remains during the Obon season: "Don't go to the sea."
It has long been feared that the spirits of ancestors return from the sea during this time and may "pull people's legs down." But why has such a belief persisted? Research shows that it stems from the fusion of Tanabata's water deity worship with ancestor veneration during Obon, as well as seasonal natural conditions that make swimming more dangerous.
[Watch the Video] Some have heard warnings like "ghosts will pull you down"… Folklore across Japan says: "Don't go to the sea during Obon." Here's the background and natural factors behind this belief.
Why the Saying "Don't Go to the Sea During Obon" Remains
On July 29, at Shichiri Mihama Beach in Kumano, Mie Prefecture , a high school girl was swept away by high waves and died. On August 2, a 57-year-old man drowned in the Tsubo River in Seki, Gifu Prefecture. Then, on August 3, at Terasawa Beach in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture , a Brazilian mother and her son were caught in the waves. The son survived, but the 24-year-old mother drowned. As summer vacation begins, water-related accidents have occurred one after another.
Amid these tragedies, many recall the old warning: "Don't go to the sea during Obon."
According to Konishi Tsunenori, a folklorist at the Nagoya City Museum, "Obon is the time when ancestral spirits return. Since many of those spirits are not directly connected to you, it was believed they might pull you down, so people were told to stay out of the sea."
Voices from the Streets
Woman from Kyoto (26):
"I've heard that ghosts pull at your legs in the sea, so I try not to go."
Man from Aichi (17):
"My grandmother told me the sea during Obon is dangerous. I've heard spirits might drag you down."
Why is the Sea Linked with Ancestors?
Tomoyuki Ichino, Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies at Doho University, explains:
"The sea was considered the gateway to the afterlife. Entering carelessly could mean being led into the world of the dead."
He adds:
"Tanabata's water deity worship became linked with Buddhist practices of Obon, and over time, people came to believe the dead dwell beyond the sea and return from there."
In the old calendar, Obon falls on July 15, with Tanabata on July 7, just a week before. While Tanabata is now most associated with the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, its origins lie in rituals welcoming deities, weaving offerings, and praying for a good harvest through water deity worship.
Because Obon and Tanabata were close in season, their traditions gradually merged over the centuries. As a result, the belief took shape that "the spirits of the dead return from beyond the sea."
Why Water Accidents Are More Likely During Obon
Hidetoshi Saito of the Japan Society of Water Accidents notes, "From experience, water-related accidents seem to increase around Obon." He explains that there is a kind of "formula" for such accidents:
Number of people near the water × Level of hazard = Likelihood of accidents
If many people gather but there is little danger, accidents do not occur. Likewise, if conditions are dangerous but no one is present, there are no accidents. The problem is that during Obon, this balance tends to collapse.
Saito explains:
"Around Obon, typhoons begin forming across the region, producing long rolling swells."
Even if these typhoons form far away, they generate large, rounded waves called uneri (swells). These swells can travel long distances, and while their wave height may appear small, they carry powerful force. Once they reach the coast, they can become dangerous high waves, capable of sweeping people away. Because typhoons are often distant, local weather may still seem calm and sunny, causing people to let their guard down.
Saito continues:
"During Obon, many people gather by the water for homecomings and sightseeing, just as coastal risks increase from swells. Inevitably, water accidents become more frequent."
Folklorist Tsunenori Konishi suggests that ancestors may have intuitively understood these dangers:
"Obon has always been a nationwide observance involving everyone, so it was easy to spread the warning: 'Stop swimming around this time.' It became a teaching passed down through generations."
Saito adds:
"Even if there's no direct scientific basis, traditions handed down from our ancestors carry meaning and should be respected."
Other Obon Taboos
In addition to swimming, various activities are said to be avoided during Obon. These include sewing, insect hunting, and fishing—anything linked to killing or bloodshed. The belief comes from the idea that blood is impure, so activities that could cause bleeding should be refrained from.
Some regions also avoid major life events such as moving house or holding weddings, based on the idea that Obon is a time to rest and welcome ancestral spirits.
These customs reflect the wisdom of earlier generations, still alive in daily life today.
(Source: Tokai TV)
“足引かれる”と聞いた人も…各地に残る言い伝え『お盆は海に行くな』調べて分かった背景や自然条件との関係性（FNNプライムオンライン） - Yahoo!ニュース
水難学会の斎藤秀俊さんは「経験則で言うと、お盆の時の水難事故は多く感じる」と話します。そんな水難事故には“公式”があるのだそうです。 斎藤さん: 「そこ（水辺）に“集まる人の数”と“発生する災害の
